REVIEW: Jess Glynne, O2 Academy, Newcastle

Marie Westmorland

Flame-haired singer Jess Glynne was on fire as she delivered a stellar performance at Newcastle’s O2 Academy last night.

The star, who has had a whirlwind introduction to the music industry since she featured as a vocalist on Clean Bandit’s hit Rather Be and Route 94’s My Love last year, was welcomed to a roar of cheers and applause from the capacity crowd.

Taking to the stage at little later than usual at 9.30pm, much to the relief of her fans, who had been at the venue for doors since 7pm, she was backed by two fantastic female vocalists and a four-piece live band.

Dressed head-to-toe in black, her pale skin and red hair appeared to glow under the heat of the stage lights as she belted out hits such as Hold My Hand and Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself from her début album I Cry When I Laugh, which topped the charts in August.

Another Clean Bandit chart-topper, Real Love, was remixed with a tease of Ce Ce Penison’s Finally, which was also well-received, along with a performance of the uplifting Right Here.

A slowed-down version of Not Letting Go, her summer smash with Tinie Tempah,and cover of the late Amy Winehouse’s Tears Dry On Their Own showed a softer side to the star.